AIG urges officers to embrace alternative dispute resolution

The Assistant Inspector-General Of Police (AIG) Zone II Headquarters, Lawal Shehu, has admonished officers in Lagos State to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for the amicable settlement of some of the cases brought before them.

He spoke at the 35th Graduation of Human Rights Officers at the Area F Command, Ikeja. It was organised by the state Police Command, in collaboration with Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON).

AG Shehu, represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Steve Yabanet, told the graduating officers that by embracing ADR, they would be giving a human face to policing.

“It is not all cases that come before you that you will be issuing detention orders.

“In fact, desist from issuing detention orders as much as possible.

“Some of the cases you handle need not get to the courts if you make efforts to mediate between complainants and the offenders.

“It is a new dawn in the Nigeria Police Force. We have a new Inspector-General who has a listening ear. Let us emulate the good work that he is doing,” he stressed.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Zubairu Muazu, represented by the Commander ‘Area F’ Police Command, Akinbayo Olasoji, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), noted that the training was to instill the culture of respecting human rights in officers so that they will not violate the rights.

He added that it is to help them “to stop thinking they are superior because they are in uniform”.

Muazu added: “We need to be civil and make the job attractive to those who wish to join us and not to be seen as enemies of the country.”

The CP urged them to be as civil as possible, saying: “If you are not nice to the people, no community will partner with you or sponsor your events.

“The fact that one of the graduating officers who happens to be among the best students is an operatives of Federal SARS shows that there is an improvement in SARS.

“We have different mechanisms for dealing with erring officers. We have the public complaint bureau in all our Public Relations Officers’ offices where complaints can be made.

“We also have the Provost Section where punishments are given to those who are found wanting,” he said.

On retirement of the officers, CP urged them to start planning and to make their actual income the bedrock of such plans.

“My advice is that officers should plan their retirement based on their basic income because at the end, you will be getting 50 per cent of your basic salary,” he said.

CRIVIFON Executive Director Gloria Egbuji pointed out that the training is to further equip the officers with human rights enforcement skills.

She said it was designed to enable them serve the public professionally.

“We are already embarking on rights education and enlightenment of the public to interface with what we are doing with the police so that they, as civilians, will know their rights too, and will be able to demand it from the police.

“We would continue to seize this opportunity to call on the human rights activists to appreciate the societal challenges of the Police and give them all the cooperation and encouragement in their efforts to succeed.

“The ultimate aim for us is to attain enviable status in human rights practices among the committee of nations,” she said.

Egbuji said 18,000 officers of the Lagos Command have been trained so far in human rights and rule of law since June 2006.

She said the198 officers graduating in the Course 35 were trained on Basic International Human Rights Standards For Law Enforcement, Dealing with Victims , Suspects and Witnesses of Human Rights Abuses as well as permissible circumstances in the use of force and firearms, Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), among other .

She said such matters were not meant for the police and that they should be referred to CMC for settlement.

The CMC, according to Mrs Ajiboye, has settled 14,000 matters so far this year, adding that an average of 26,000 matters are settled yearly.

Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, who was represented by Mr Ligali Olakunle urged the officers to make the rule of law the bedrock of their activities and while discharging their duties.

“When performing your duties as police officers, do it having regards to the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution and rule of law. The rule of law is made for the advancement of the society,” he said.

He urged them to put what they have learnt into practice and to remember that issue of fundamental human rights are not transferable but deals with the individual and personal liberty.

Citing sections 34 to 39 of the Constitution, Ligali also urged the graduating officer to allow the Constitution to form the bedrock of their investigations as any violation is against a violation of the fundamental human rights of an individual.

The Class Governor of Course ‘35’, Joshua Yusuf, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), urged the officers who were trained to put the knowledge impacted on them into practice whenever or wherever they are discharging their duties.

He said: “The course participants have been tutored in many topics which includes Fundamental Human Rights , Child Rights Act, Domestic Violence among other courses” and commended his colleagues for their maturity, discipline and cooperations exhibited during the period of programme.

Head of Training, Lagos State Police Command, ACP Victor Okoyo-Toyo and Regional Manager, NPF Pensions Limited Adekunle Ogunlade lectured the officers on how to plan for their retirement, emphasising the importance of basing their plans on their actual income and excluding gratifications.

ACP Okoyo-Toyo told them to keep records of their Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) forms as they were vital to payments to be made to them after retirement.